3 Rug Colors Designers Say to Definitely Avoid in a Living Room — They're Not Practical, and Can Create a...
Design experts warn against pure black, intensely saturated, and light solid rug colors in living rooms because they can create visual voids, overwhelm the space, or reveal stains quickly. Instead they suggest off‑black or charcoal tones, muted earthy hues, and patterned rugs that add texture and hide wear. Maria O’Brien of Ruggable emphasizes that a rug should act as a visual anchor that harmonizes with curtains, upholstery, or wood tones. The guidance reflects 2026 trends toward balanced palettes and practical, washable options.
Yes, They're Better Looking, but These 3 Problems With Wall-Hung Toilets Need to Be Talked About More
Wall‑hung toilets are praised for sleek aesthetics, adjustable height and easier floor cleaning, making them a favorite in modern bathroom designs. However, experts highlight three major drawbacks: complex installation requiring a concealed frame, a style that can clash with traditional...
Wall Shelf? Wall Light? This Habitat Design Is Actually Both, and Might Just Be the Cleverest Idea for a Tiny...
Habitat’s Nordlux Lilibeth LED Wall Light merges a floating shelf with a sconce, offering storage and illumination in one compact unit. Priced at £50, it comes in three metallic finishes and can be plug‑in or hard‑wired, fitting narrow hallways, bedrooms,...
This Aussie Family Home Offers Sunshine All Year Round, Thanks to a Rich, Considered Palette That Casts the Warmest Glow
Australian interior designer Alicia McKimm, co‑director of Golden, created her most personal project—a modern family home in a Melbourne beachside suburb. Working with husband Jon’s building firm InForm and involving their two daughters, the house was built in just over...
A Client Just Asked Me for an Industrial Style Living Room — Here's Some of the Decor I Recommended for...
Interior stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou outlines how to create an industrial‑style living room, emphasizing raw textures, dark palettes, and sculptural metal pieces. She notes the style’s recent under‑exposure as softer interiors dominate, yet argues its architectural edge remains compelling. The article...
There's Life Beyond Soho House — How London's New Private Members' Clubs Are Re-Imagining What Luxury Looks Like, By Risking...
London’s private members’ club scene is moving beyond the Soho House template, with over a hundred venues now competing for design‑savvy clientele. New entrants such as Aethos London Shoreditch, Christabel’s, and Lighthouse Social each anchor their concept in local heritage,...
I'll Say It, Strong-Smelling Candles Are a Bad Idea in the Kitchen — Why 'Passive Scenting' Is the Home Fragrance...
Strong‑smelling candles can clash with the natural aromas of cooking, making the kitchen feel overwhelming and even altering perceived flavors. Fragrance expert Gini Lin advises a shift to passive scenting, such as high‑quality reed diffusers, that emit subtle botanical notes....
Sorry, Gravel Patios Might Seem Easy, but They're Not Always a Good Idea — Landscapers Weigh Up the Pros and...
Gravel patios are praised for their low cost, DIY‑friendly installation, and versatile aesthetic that fits styles from Mediterranean to Japanese gardens. Landscape experts highlight the material’s natural drainage benefits, ease of repair, and suitability for large or oddly shaped outdoor...
I Bought My Kitchen Extractor From Amazon so I Could DIY My Own 'Minimalist' Range Hood — Here's How It...
A homeowner dissatisfied with a high‑street kitchen designer’s limited options purchased a Cookology integrated extractor hood on Amazon and built a custom, minimalist built‑in range hood. Using timber battens, MDF cladding, and plaster, the DIY installation incorporated floating shelves and...
Out of Sight, Out of Mind — 5 Bad Habits Too Much Hidden Storage Can Have on What You Choose...
Hidden storage offers a sleek look but often creates invisible clutter that leads to duplicate purchases, hoarding, and forgotten items. Professional organizer Sophie Crowhurst highlights five habits that stem from concealed compartments, including repurchasing, sentimental overload, and delayed decision‑making. She...
7 Reasons You Should Actually Change Your Curtains for Spring— It's Extra Effort, Yes, but It's So Worth It
Updating curtains for spring is a quick way to refresh interiors, boost natural light, and improve energy efficiency. Designers Sarah Peake and Sophie Rowell recommend swapping heavy drapes for sheers, pale linens, bamboo blinds, and layered blackout options. Proper storage...
3 Kitchen Tile Colors Experts Say You Should Avoid If You Want Your Space to Be Timeless and Stylish
Livingetc’s kitchen expert warns that bright whites, pale neutrals, and highly saturated hues are poor choices for kitchen tiles. These colors can look sterile, create harsh contrast with wood cabinetry, and age quickly, while also being prone to visible stains....
A Good 'Perch' Is the Secret to Outdoor Spaces That Keep the Party Going — 'Bar Tables' Are the...
Bar‑style garden tables are being championed as the overlooked furniture piece that transforms patios into vibrant social hubs. The article lists a curated selection of designs—from Verner Panton’s Verpan Barboy to IKEA’s Docksta—highlighting price drops and features such as weather‑resistant...
Curated Finds for Catherine: Seating Edit
The stylist presented Catherine with a curated seating edit to add contrast and depth to her light‑filled home. Recommendations span dining chairs, island stools, and lounge chairs, emphasizing bouclé upholstery, richer wood tones, and subtle colour accents. Each piece is...
The Minimal Kitchen Decor Pieces I’m Loving Right Now — Proof That Simple Doesn’t Always Mean Safe
Stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou presents a curated list of decor pieces designed to soften and add character to minimalist kitchens, emphasizing that design, not clutter, should carry the space. The edit spans budget-friendly items like H&M stoneware bowls to high‑end pieces...
3 Ways to Apply the Japanese Concept of "Ma" To Your Kitchen — Experts Say It's About Leaving Intentional Space...
The article introduces the Japanese aesthetic of "Ma," which values intentional negative space, and shows how it can transform kitchen design. It explains that Ma goes beyond minimalism, focusing on pauses that enable energy (Ki) to flow freely. Three practical...
Whatever You Do, Designers Say to Absolutely Avoid These 3 Curtain Colors in Bedrooms
Design experts warn against using saturated "heat" colors—reds, oranges, and yellows—in bedroom curtains because they can overstimulate and disrupt sleep. Overly cool or stark shades, such as crisp white and icy neutrals, also clash with the room’s need for warmth...
I Want a California-Inspired Garden — These Are the 5 Things a Los Angeles-Based Landscaper Says Are a Must-Have, and...
A Los Angeles‑based landscaper outlines five essentials for recreating a California‑style garden in the UK, focusing on native, drought‑tolerant plants, indoor‑outdoor flow, water features, layered lighting, and edible citrus. He recommends using plants such as Agave, Salvia, and Manzanita in...
It's the Best Way to Dress Up a Living Room With a Boring Sofa — These Patterned Ottomans Bring Confidence,...
The article highlights patterned ottomans as a simple way to revitalize living rooms anchored by neutral sofas. It explains how the upholstered pieces add color, texture, and visual weight, and can double as functional coffee tables. Designer Iokasti Sotirakopoulou offers...
6 Ways to Introduce Lighter Fabrics Into Your Home for Spring and Get Rid of That Winter 'Heaviness'
Design experts recommend swapping heavy winter textiles for lighter fabrics to refresh homes for spring. Strategies include installing sheer curtains, choosing pale drapes, adding bright upholstery accents, using hammam towels in bathrooms, and replacing heavy quilts with linen bedding. These...
Less, but Better — The Minimalist Living Room Decor Pieces That Do More With Less, Selected by a Discerning Stylist
Stylist Iokasti Sotirakopoulou showcases a refined approach to minimalist living‑room design that favors layered textures, sculptural forms, and strategic negative space. The article highlights how soft curves, tonal rugs, and materials like bouclé, linen, and marble can add depth without...
4 Nostalgic Colors That Are Making a Comeback in Modern Design — "For 2026, That Means Shades That Feel Quieter...
Design experts say nostalgic colors are shifting from vintage references to emotional, sincere tones for 2026. Pantone’s Jane Boddy highlights avocado green, millennial pink, terracotta, and warm neutral browns as the key hues returning to interiors. These shades are being...
Watching Japanese Chefs Changed the Way I Think About Kitchens — These 24 Pieces Capture That Philosophy
The article showcases a stylist‑curated edit of 24 Japanese‑inspired kitchen pieces, illustrating how the quiet precision of omakase chefs translates into a philosophy of purposeful, minimalist design. It highlights the emphasis on lasting tools, restrained aesthetics, and thoughtful organization that...
I'd Never Organize a Closet by Color — There's a Reason Why It Doesn't Work, and a Much Better Alternative
The article argues that organizing closets by color, while visually appealing, is inefficient and hard to maintain. Professional organizer Cher Casey recommends sorting garments by category and frequency of use instead, creating a functional layout that mirrors daily routines. After...
I Picked These Modern Slatted Fence Panels for My Garden — Here's 5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before I...
Modern slatted fence panels offer an affordable, stylish option for Mediterranean‑style gardens, but they come with practical drawbacks. Installation often requires cutting panels to size and re‑attaching vertical supports, while painting the narrow slats can be labor‑intensive. The spaced slats...
Japanese Bedrooms Prove That Less Really Can Be More — 24 Curated Bedroom Pieces an Interior Stylist Loves
Japanese bedroom design, rooted in the concept of “ma,” is gaining mainstream traction as consumers seek calm, purposeful spaces. Interior stylist Miaad Latoof curated 24 pieces that embody this minimalist aesthetic, ranging from low wooden platform beds to affordable rice‑paper...
A Kaleidoscope of Color, Texture, and Pattern, Africa's First "Designer Suite" Just Called It: Minimalism Is Dead — Long Live...
South African designer Thebe Magugu has unveiled the Thebe Magugu Suite and Magugu House at Cape Town’s Mount Nelson, marking his debut in luxury hospitality design. The two‑story suite blends Afro‑modernist colour, texture and pattern with handcrafted South African art, furniture and bespoke amenities. Adjacent...